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The 2026 season should mark the arrival of a new championship in motorboating. Called Formula 60 Electric, this series is based on an architecture already familiar to sprint racers. But it replaces thermal propulsion with a complete electric chain. This technical evolution raises a number of questions for teams, organizers and equipment manufacturers.
A technical base familiar to Formula 4 drivers
The championship is based on an existing platform. The boats used are based on the standard Formula 4 hull, widely used in motorboat sprint racing. This one-design hull offers several advantages. It simplifies team logistics and enables performance to be compared on an identical basis. Formula 4 is already used in a number of international competitions, and is often an entry category for drivers new to the discipline.
In the case of the Formula 60 Electric, the boat's structure remains unchanged. The transformation mainly concerns the propulsion system. The internal combustion engine and its power system are replaced by a complete electric unit. This approach preserves the boat's sporting architecture, while introducing a different type of motorization. For teams already involved in Formula 4, the technical adaptation remains relatively limited.
48 V electric drive designed for sprint racing
The propulsion chain is based on a 48 V electrical system developed by Molabo. The propulsion unit comprises a 50 kW ARIES motor and a set of interchangeable marine batteries. The 50 kW power corresponds to around 67 horsepower. For a lightweight racing boat like the Formula 4, this level of power enables performance to be maintained for short sprint races.
The choice of 48 V architecture offers several technical advantages. Voltages remain relatively low compared with the high-voltage systems used in electric cars. This simplifies certain safety and on-board integration constraints. The battery pack is designed for rapid replacement between runs. This principle of interchangeable batteries is designed to maintain a racing pace comparable to that of internal combustion engines.
A French calendar for the first 2026 season
The championship is due to start under the aegis of the French Motorcycle Federation (FFM). Four race weekends are already scheduled in France for the inaugural season.
The announced schedule includes :
- Albi, June 7 and 8, 2026
- Mâcon, June 27 and 28, 2026
- Chalon sur Saône, August 29 and 30, 2026
- Caen, September 5 and 6, 2026
These stages take place on waters already familiar to motorboat racers. They allow the new category to be integrated into a technical environment familiar to organizers and teams alike. Races are expected to take place in the sprint format typical of Formula series.
A new classroom under construction for the teams
The Formula 60 Electric is still in the structuring phase. The organizers are looking for teams to become founding members of the category. These teams would be involved in defining the technical and sporting parameters. These include authorized settings, race organization and equipment homologation conditions.
This approach, which is common when launching a new motorboat class, enables the rules to be gradually adjusted in line with feedback from the field. For interested teams, the stakes are twofold. On the one hand, they can participate in setting up a new sporting category. On the other, they have to accept a development phase in which the technical balances are not yet fully stabilized.
An energy transition observed by the motorboating industry
The project has been developed in conjunction with a number of industry players. The Union Internationale Motonautique and Mercury Racing are among the partners involved in the preparatory work. The announced objective goes beyond a national championship. The promoters already envisage an international extension from the 2027 season under the UIM regulatory framework.
